Seven years after her son’s murder, a deaf mother secures relief from the Telangana Human Rights Commission:
More than seven years after her son was allegedly killed by a schoolmate at a tribal school hostel, a deaf widow has been granted relief by the Telangana Human Rights Commission (THRC).
The Commission, headed by Chairperson Justice Dr Shameem Akther, recommended that the State’s Chief Secretary provide the woman with a regular government job in the last-grade category by relaxing applicable rules, along with ₹5 lakh in compensation. The directions are to be implemented within six months, and a compliance report submitted to the Commission.
The incident dates back to October 23, 2018, when the minor was allegedly strangled and beaten to death at the Government Tribal Residential Welfare School in Khammam after he resisted a sexual assault attempt by a classmate. A report submitted to the Commission by the Khammam Commissioner of Police revealed that the accused student had a known history of violent behaviour and was already a suspect in another murder case. It also noted that the school principal and hostel warden were aware of his conduct.
The criminal case remains under trial.
The Commission found gross negligence on the part of the Government Tribal Welfare Residential Hostel, Khammam, and officials of the supervising Tribal Welfare Department, holding their lapses responsible for the child’s death. Following the incident, the principal and hostel warden were suspended.
Tragedy struck the family again a few months later when the boy’s father, a daily-wage labourer, passed away, leaving the mother to support their young daughter without a steady income. The Commission observed that despite clear findings of negligence, the family had not received any substantial support or adequate compensation.
Highlighting the woman’s vulnerable circumstances — being deaf and mute, surviving on irregular earnings, and single-handedly caring for her daughter and elderly mother-in-law — the Commission described its recommendations as a “just and humane” step to protect her dignity and fundamental human rights.
